CTech's Sunday Roundup of Israeli Tech News

Israeli tax authority wants Broadcom to shell out $62.3 million more for BroadLight assets acquisition; Women say faulty glucometers made their sweet pregnancy bitter

Israeli tax authority wants Broadcom to shell out $62.3 million more for BroadLight assets acquisition. Three months after paying some $200 million for BroadLight in 2012, Broadcom paid $59.5 million for its intellectual property and other assets—a sum the authority is now saying severally undervalued their true value. Read more

 

In Depth | Women say faulty glucometers made their sweet pregnancy bitter. 6% of pregnant women in Israel are diagnosed with gestational diabetes every year, and have to depend on blood glucose meters for the health of themselves and their babies. But what if the glucometer prescribed to many of them gave inaccurate readings? Read more

 

A pregnant woman measuring her blood glucose level. Photo: Amit Sha'al

 

 

Opinion | Hype over neruotechnologies can drive legislators to jump the gun. As the hype around brain-altering devices grows, legislators find themselves attempting to fight off threats that have yet to emerge. Read more

 

Israeli mentalist Lior Suchard joins personal assistant robot developer Temi. The entertainer will lead Temi’s “creative efforts.” Temi develops a personal voice-activated robotic personal assistant on wheels. Read more

 

Fitch affirms Israel’s A+ rating, citing strong growth. The credit rating agency affirmed the rating with a stable outlook, estimating the deficit will grow to 3.6% of GDP in 2019, in line with the forecasts of the Israeli Ministry of Finance. Read more

 

Bazan to acquire Leviathan gas field’s condensate in over $1 billion deal. Leviathan’s production of condensate, once it begins its commercial operation planned for the end of the year, is estimated at between 2,000 and 2,500 barrels a day. Read more

 

Backstreet Boy AJ is 6.8% Ashkenazi Jewish, says Israeli DNA tester MyHeritage. Earlier this year, the company announced a partnership with the 1990s boy band as part of the band’s ongoing international tour titled DNA. Read more

 

Opinion | Israeli startups should set their sights on Africa. With Africa's growing markets, Israeli startups have both the financial incentive and the moral obligation to play a part in combating poverty, disease, climate change, and food scarcity in the continent. Read more

 

Surgical robotics company Mazor leases 5,200-square-meter office building in Caesarea. Mazor, which manufactures robotic guidance systems for brain and spine surgery, was acquired in December by NYSE-listed Medtronic in a $1.3 billion all-cash deal. Read more

 

Former major general steps down as CEO of cannabis cultivator Canndoc. Canndoc’s deputy chairman Alon Granot has been appointed to replace Major general (ret.) Nitzan Alon as CEO. Read more